Mailbag: Is there an answer to the Heat’s ongoing offensive issues?
The Miami Herald’s Heat mailbag is here to answer your questions. If you weren’t able to ask this time, send your questions for future mailbags via X (@Anthony_Chiang). You can also email them to achiang@miamiherald.com.
Jonathan: The Heat’s offense has looked off to start the season. What do you think needs to change? The easy answer is them getting rim pressure to generate easier threes. But I don’t know how feasible that would be, even though you would think Jimmy Butler and Jaime Jaquez Jr., in addition to Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, should be able to do that.
Anthony Chiang: For all of the talk about finding a way to improve the offense this season after finishing each of the past two seasons with a bottom-10 offensive rating, it has actually been statistically worse. Last season, the Heat scored 113.3 points per 100 possessions. Through the first 10 games this season, the Heat has scored 111.3 points per 100 possessions.
So yes, the Heat’s offense has been off to begin the season ... and that’s with Tyler Herro having a Stephen Curry-like start. That’s a bit concerning.
So what’s the problem?
Three-point shooting is not the Heat’s issue. Miami has upped its three-point volume and entered Friday with the NBA’s fifth-best team three-point shooting percentage at 38.8 percent this season.
But two-point shooting is a problem for the Heat. Miami entered Friday with the NBA’s worst team two-point shooting percentage at 48.5 percent.
That’s because the Heat is shooting just 50.8 percent from inside the paint this season. For perspective, the Sacramento Kings are shooting 64 percent from inside the paint.
The most concerning thing is that finishing around the basket was also a problem for the Heat last season. The Heat finished last season with the league’s sixth-worst team two-point shooting percentage at 52.7 percent.
The bottom line is the Heat needs to make more shots around the basket to become a better offense. But that has proven to be easier said than done with this current Heat roster.
@miamiheatrants: When do you think the Heat will start looking at the trade market?
Anthony: It still seems a little early for that, but the Heat is always scanning the trade market in search of a deal that can improve the roster. Activity on the trade market usually picks up after Dec. 15, when most of the free agents who signed with teams this past offseason become eligible to be dealt. So, stay tuned ...
@Jthefox101YT: Since the Heat lost to the Pistons, is the team unable to make it to the knockout rounds of the NBA Cup?
Anthony: Even after Tuesday’s loss in Detroit, the Heat still has an opportunity to advance to the knockout rounds of the in-season tournament. But the Heat very likely needs to win all three of its remaining group-play games (Friday at Indiana Pacers, Nov. 26 vs. Milwaukee Bucks and Nov. 29 vs. Toronto Raptors) to have a chance to make it to the knockout rounds.
As a reminder, the winner of each of the NBA’s six five-team groups and two wild cards (the team from each conference with the best record in group play that finished second in its group) will advance to the knockout quarterfinal round.
